Candidate Statement: Adam Burgasser
Nominated Office: Councilor
Affiliation: UC San Diego, Department of Physics
Position/title: Professor
PhD institution: Caltech (2001)
Areas of scientific interest:
- Very low mass stars, brown dwarfs and exoplanets
- stellar spectroscopy and classification
- binary systems
- radio astrometry
- physics/astrophysics education research
- astronomy/art collaboratories
AAS positions:
- Chair, Committee on the Status of Minorities in Astronomy (CSMA; 2013-present)
- Member, Warner & Pierce Prize Committee (2013-present)
Other relevant positions and experience:
- Member, International Astronomical Union Commission 45 (Stellar Classification) 2007-2015
- Science Organizing Committee, Cool Stars, Stellar Systems and the Sun 16 (2010) and 19 (2016)
- Representative, California Professoriate for the Advancement of Physics Careers (2010-present)
- Representative, USRA (2010-present)
- Advisory Committee Member, Institute for Scientist and Engineer Educators (2012-present)
- Co-Director, UCSD-Morehouse-Spelman UC-HBCU Physics Pathways Program (2013-present)
- Steering Committee Member, Cal-Bridge Program (2014-present)
- Co-Chair, LSST Solar Neighborhood Working Group (2014-present)
- Co-Organizer, Inclusive Astronomy Conference (2014-2015)
Candidate Statement:
Astronomy inspires people from all ages, backgrounds and abilities to be curious about the Universe, explore the physical underpinnings of Nature, and develop critical and scientific thinking. Yet, like many fields of physical science, our profession does not reflect the demographic composition of our nation, and various forms of subtle and overt racism, sexism, genderism, ableism, classism, and other exclusionary practices prevent the full spectrum of people, ideas and perspectives from being brought to bear on the greatest problems of our Universe.
As Chair of the CSMA, I have worked with our community to identify and address barriers to entry and advancement in Astronomy, including: financial barriers and biases associated with the GRE, imbalance in resources and opportunities for students and faculty of color at HBCUs and MSIs, and accessibility for all abilities. I served on the organizing committee for the first Inclusive Astronomy Conference, and am working with co-organizers and the community to develop recommendations to improve the climate for ALL astronomers. As a AAS Councilor, I will make sure our Committees of Community (CSWA, CSMA, SGMA) have a voice in AAS governance, and will serve the diverse community of students, amateurs and professionals that comprise our Society.
As Chair of the CSMA, I have worked with our community to identify and address barriers to entry and advancement in Astronomy, including: financial barriers and biases associated with the GRE, imbalance in resources and opportunities for students and faculty of color at HBCUs and MSIs, and accessibility for all abilities. I served on the organizing committee for the first Inclusive Astronomy Conference, and am working with co-organizers and the community to develop recommendations to improve the climate for ALL astronomers. As a AAS Councilor, I will make sure our Committees of Community (CSWA, CSMA, SGMA) have a voice in AAS governance, and will serve the diverse community of students, amateurs and professionals that comprise our Society.